UNISON has called on all school-based members to take strike action beginning next week (October 21) in a national dispute over pay. This action is planned to last for two weeks and involves support staff in schools.
We are currently assessing how this will impact our schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings and are not able to complete this yet due to school closures for the October holidays.
Our priority is always the safety of our children and young people. This means we will close schools and ELC settings where we do not think there will be enough staff to ensure the safety of pupils. This may also mean that we have to close Intensive Support Provisions (ISPs) in some schools even if the school itself is not closed.
It is likely many primary schools and ELC settings will have to close and we would ask parents/carers to plan for alternative arrangements for the two weeks of industrial action in case their school cannot open. If this is the case then before and after school care (Kids Clubs and Wraparound Care) will also be closed. It may be possible to partially or fully open some primary schools/ELC settings but the position could change on a day-to-day bases once industrial action is underway.
Whilst we cannot yet confirm at this stage, we are aiming to open all secondary schools.
Fairview School has currently been assessed as needing to be closed on the Monday (October 21) and possibly other days next week once more information is available.
Parents should make alternative arrangements.
Remote learning will be provided when schools are closed to pupils as teachers are not taking part in the industrial action.
We thank parents, carers and pupils for their understanding.
We appreciate the impact the industrial action will have on families and so are sharing details of the current situation to help plan for the first two weeks of term.
Please be aware the situation may change as we get closer to the start of term and we will continue to post updates on our social media channels and website when they are available.
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